9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The north part of the land in present day Maricopa County was then in Socorro County.[4][5][6] Look for records in Socorro County.

31 Jan 1877 - Maricopa county gained land from Yavapai county, and lost a small area along the Gila River to Pima.[16] Look for records in Maricopa, Pima, and Yavapai counties.

8 February 1881 - Gila County was created from lands in Maricopa and Pinal Counties.[17][13] This county named for the Gila River. Look for records in the Gila, Maricopa, and Pima counties.

See also Previous Jurisdictions to land in Arizona showing dates the jurisdictions were created and maps. This will help in determining what jurisdiction your ancestor lived in and where the records are now located.

Court

Land

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.

See Arizona Land and Property for additional information about early Arizona land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.

Most of the land in Arizona was originally obtained from the US federal government by a patent. These General Land Office Records are searchable online and most have free images of patents to download. The minimum information needed for a search is the state where the land is located and the name of the person receiving the patent. Surveys and Land Status Records can also be searched here.

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Maricopa County, Arizona Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the Wiki page section Arizona Local Histories.

Societies and Libraries

Arizona Historical Society, Museum at Papago Park The Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park is the principal museum in the Phoenix metropolitan area covering the changes that have made Arizona what it is today. Concentrating on the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the museum engages visitors on diverse topics such as World War II’s effects on Arizona, the rise of desert cities, Arizona pop culture and sports, and the state’s geology, among many others. The museum brings stories to life through hands-on and multimedia displays, and a variety of educational programs.

Arizona Jewish Historical Society Dedicated to preserving local Jewish history, promoting awareness of our states diverse history, and making local history accessible to all.

Chandler Historical Society helps to focus public attention on the diverse history of Chandler and the far southwest valley through events and special programs, and is dedicated to historic preservation through financial and volunteer support.

Gilbert Historical Society, Inc. Our mission is to serve as a trustee of our historical legacy and as a catalyst for shaping our future. We will accomplish this by fostering learning and research with a commitment to preservation, engaging the community with opportunities to understand past choices, present circumstances, and future possibilities, and strengthening the bonds of the community and facilitating solutions to common problems through leadership and advocacy.

Glendale Arizona Historical Society To promote public awareness and appreciation of the history of Glendale and the surrounding region, collects, preserves, and interprets documentary material and material objects, and it disseminates historical information and supports scholarly research.

Maricopa County Historical Society The Desert Caballeros Western Museum welcomes and enriches diverse audiences by inspiring an appreciation of the art and history of the American West through creative exhibitions and educational programs that preserve the West’s cultural legacy.

Mesa Historical Society The mission is to preserve and create interest in the tangible evidences of local and regional communities and of settlement and development of Mesa, Arizona by: locating and preserving written and spoken records; obtaining and preserving artifacts and memorabilia; locating and preserving photographs; obtaining and preserving local landmarks; working to benefit and maintain the Mesa Historical Museum; publishing and making available the history of the Mesa area; and promoting cooperation with similar organizations and with local civic and social groups in furthering the mutual interests of the groups relative to Mesa's history.

Phoenix Genealogical Society The purpose is to provide a forum for shared Genealogy Issues, provide help and guides for members who request it, do selected research for corresponding Genealogy Societies and individuals, and do peer review of member files when requested.

San Tan Historical Society To collect, preserve, document, and display the histories and artifacts of the Chandler Heights, Combs, Higley, and Queen Creek Communities. To facilitate the collection of items and to encourage and educate the public to respect and participate in the conservation of the history of our past.

Sun Cities Area Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation and presentation of records and artifacts through carefully designed exhibits that chronicle the more than 50-year history of Sun City and the 25-year history of its sister city, Sun City West.

West Valley Genealogical Society serves Genealogists throughout the Northwest Valley area of Maricopa County, Arizona. The WVGS is a non-profit corporation dedicated to researching, recording, and sharing genealogical & ethnic information. serves Genealogists throughout the Northwest Valley area of Maricopa County, Arizona.